Apparatus for straining milk



Nov. 22, 1927.

J. F. HORNE v APPARATUS FOR STRAINING MILK Filed June 25, 1924 Inv Ila/2 1012 J0! E Horn 9 wim 92124,

Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN F. HORNE, or PoR'rLnNn-Mnmn I APPARATUS FOR STRAINING MILK.

Application filed June 25,

This invention relates to improvements in milk strainers. More especially it relates to means for clan'iping the peripheral edge of a disk of straining fabric around the edge :of the outlet of a hopper, in order that practi- .cally all of the disk may be used forstraining and as little as possible for holding it in straining position.

The health laws of many States require the fabric used in straining milk to be discarded after it has been used once, and to this end the laws provide that the size of the fabric shall be only slightly larger than that portion actually used for straining. The purpose of this becomes apparent when one takes into consideration the fact that the fabric shrinks very appreciably after being used, and more so if an attempt is made to wash and dry it. Accordingly, if it is originally only just large enough to be held at its very edge, the inevitable shrinkage so reduces it in size that it can not be again used. In order to conform with such health laws and as a matter of economy in the amount or quantity of fabric used in each disk, it is essential that means be provided which will hold the disk firmly around its edge. To provide such means is a principal object of the present invention.

This object is attained by providing a rounded edge on the discharge outlet of a milk hopper whose bottom opening is slightly smaller than the extent of the fabric straining disk to be held, and by further providing a split band having an inturned edge formed with the same degree of curvature as the rounded edge of the outlet of the hopper. When the disk has been placed.

across the outlet with the peripheral edge of the former barely overhanging the rounded edge of the latter. the band, slightly expanded, is slipped over the fabrics edge and outside of the hopper until its inturned edge brings up against the rounded edge of the outlet. The band is then tightened thereby drawing its inturned edge firmly against the fabric and clamping the latter against the rounded edge of the hopper. By thus clamping the fabric diskalong the rounded edge a maximum grip is attained with the minimum amount of fabric actually clamped between the clamp jaws, thereby leaving as much as possible free for the straining.

It is intended that the patent shall cover 1924. Serial Nij. 722,406.

by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed. 1

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective of an inverted strainer embodying the present invention,

. Figure 2 is' an elevationv of the outlet end in section on line 22 of Figure 1; and

-Figure 3.is an elevation in section taken on line of Figure l. s

Referring to the drawings, :thestrainer 18 shown'in an inverted position as this is the preferred position when the straining fabric and holding means are applied The hopper 1 terminates in a nozzle outlet Q adapted to be inserted in the container receiving the strained milk. 'The edge 2 of this outlet is rounded over externally and incidentally forms an inwardly extending annular flange. A split clamping band 3 is provided hav- 111g its ends 4 outward so as to be engaged by a bolt 6 and thumb nut 5. The lower or external edge 3 of this band is turned inward upon the same degree of curvature as the rounded edge2 of the hopper outlet, so that when the band is placed around the outlet and pressed downward thereabout the two rounded edges contact and provide a relatively large clamping surface between them.

A disk 8 of straining fabric, slightly greater in extent than the opening of the hopper outlet, is laid across the outlet with its edge barely overhanging the. rounded edge of the outlet. The band, with its clamping bolt loosened, is slipped over the outlet and pressed downward until its inturned edge 3 comes against the overhanging edge of fabric and clamps it over and around the rounded edge of the outlet. The thumb nut 5 is then set up thereby drawing the hand tight and clamping the peripheral edge of the fabric securely between the inturned edge of the band andthe rounded edge of the outlet. The strainer is now ready for use and the milk can be poured into the hopper and strained through the fabric without danger of any portion of the edge slipping and. peilmittinga free passageway for unstrained mi k.

Upon removal of the band and fabric, the latter in drying shrinks to such a degree that it can not be used again because it will not be large enough to be gripped at its edge between the rounded edges of the band and outlet.

I claim 1. Apparatus for straining milk comprising, in combination, a hopper having a depending nozzle turned inward at the bottom to form a rounded exterior surface at the edge thereof; a fabric disk extending exteriorly across the nozzle below its opening and barely overlying the said rounded exterior surface; and a split clamping band adapted to be pressed externally onto said nozzle in direction parallel to the axis thereof until its leading edge is beyond the edge of said disk; said band having a portion at its trailing edge turned inward to constitute a stop for limiting the degree to which the band can be pressed onto the nozzle; and be ing shaped to make surface contact with the rounded exterior surface of the nozzle thereby to hold the edge of the fabric against said rounded surface of the nozzle when the band has been pressed to its limit thereon; and means for drawing the split ends of the band together to increase the fabric holding effect of said band.

2. Apparatus for straining milk compris= ing, in combination, a hopper having a depending nozzle turned inward at the bottom to form a rounded exterior surface at the edge thereof; a fabric disk extending exteriorly across the nozzle below its opening and barely overlying the said rounded exterior surface; and a split clamping band adapted to be pressed externally onto said nozzle in direction parallel to the axis thereof until its leading edge is beyond the edge of said disk, and having its trailing edge turned inward to form a flange with interior rounded surface; said rounded interior surface of the flange being adapted to clamp the fabric against the rounded exterior surface of the nozzle in surface contact with one another; and means for drawing the split ends of the band togetherto increase the clamping pressure at said surface contact.

JOHN F. HORNE. 

